The Pride and the Passion

Sixways, Friday 4^th February: no closed roof; no opera stars; no TV cameras; no goats; 66,000 fewer in the ground. But what excitement, what commitment, what heart-stopping tension!

Friday was another perfect evening for a match: no rain and comparatively mild and windless.  Interest in the game had been building for weeks – a must-win for Worcester against an old adversary.  Battles with Leeds pre-date our duels with Rotherham and so often luck has been with our Yorkshire rivals. (Except perhaps when Sateki “Sticky” Tuipolutu left the Tykes to join us.)  Off the pitch, however, relations have been cordial and, when the two sides met at Headingley earlier this season, Phil Davies was generous in his praise of Worcester.  Leeds, more than anyone else, understands the Warriors’ achievements, aspirations and difficulties this year.

The match promised to be an absorbing one: both teams desperate for a win.  Blue and gold against gold and blue!  On paper, the squads looked evenly balanced:  Stimpson, Balshaw, Christophers, Regan, Parks, Shelley and Palmer against Delport, Pieters, Rasmussen, Van Niekerk, Sanderson, Windo and Gillies. There were also the Murphy brothers locked in the line-out.

Although Worcester hearts might have sunk to see Lloyd Jackson running the line once more, we were encouraged to have Mr Pearson as referee.  His abilities had been warmly praised by Ed Morrison when he spoke to the Supporters’ Club in the Autumn and  so it proved on the night.

Once again, Sixways was a sell-out.  Leeds support was minimal due, in part, to the distance and the Midland motorway madness on a Friday evening.  It was also unfortunate (for them) that the fixture clashed with Leeds Rhinos v Canterbury in the final of the Rugby League World Club Championship.  I wonder how many Tykes’ supporters were filling the stands at Elland Road.  (We know one Leeds-born Worcester supporter who sacrificed his ticket in order to be at Sixways.)  There were, however, some Yorkshire fans in the ground and several were seated near us.  They were, I suspect, what the Welsh call “Committee”.

The gentleman adjacent to us was just that: knowledgeable, fair-minded and friendly.  It is worthwhile putting his observations on record:

            “You play to your strengths,” he said, “and you’re well worth the win.  I’m glad the whistle went when it did or you would have taken away our losing bonus.” He felt that our forwards were dominant, even though that is usually Leeds’ strength and he praised our driving maul as “not very pretty” but the best he’d seen this season.  Jokingly, he identified our best tactical kick of the match as the ball sent down field to Balshaw who was minus his boots.

I would like to think that he felt that his courtesy was returned by the Worcester crowd.  Leeds players were applauded (politely) and all kicks were taken in comparative silence.  It was a very different atmosphere from Castle Grim last week and from the constant noise heard in all International arenas these days.

After the game, the excitement, the victory and the fine evening ensured that many supporters lingered in the ground, contributing to the club atmosphere and helping to increase the many new friendships that are being forged amongst the loyal fans this season.  The hour was late when we finally returned home – tired but relieved and delighted by the well-deserved win.

It was about the same time of night that we arrived back in Worcester on Saturday after our trip to the Millennium Stadium.  I should have been euphoric after a Welsh win (and I was very pleased) but, for long periods, the game in Cardiff had failed to match the pitch of pride and passion experienced on Friday night.  It was a curious comparison, but one which is also identified in this month’s Rugby World where Stephen Jones argues that the 6 Nations needs re-vitalising.  He concludes his article with the following observation:

            Compare two games in November with less than 24 hours between them. 

            When England beat South Africa, there was general happiness.  Clapping.

            A few handwaves.  The night before, Worcester played Wasps at Sixways.

            Dramatic game, heart-stopping atmosphere.  The camera picked up

            spectators going mad, holding their heads in their hands, peeping through

            fingers as the tension bit…Sometimes the pull of your locality is stronger

            than that of your country.

As I write, Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth are locked at the top of Division One and Worcester sits above both Quins and Saints in the ZP.  In a fortnight’s time, the Warriors are at the Stoop. We must make sure that the Sixways “Barmy Army” is there in full voice, to let our lads know that pride and passion are what Worcester brings to the Premiership!

RT